Apparatus for vacuum sealing casings and the like



March 1, 1966 M. J. G. TIPPER APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CASINGS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1963 lllllll- IOO FIG. I

INVENTOR MAYNARD J. G. TIPPER PATENT AGENT March 1, 1966 c; R 3,237,366

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CASINGS AND THE LIKE Filed April 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 as I I INVENTOR MAYNARD J. G TlPPER BY PATENT AGENT March 1, 1966 J, 5. TIPPER 3,237,366

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CASINGS AND THE LIKE Filed April 26, 1965 I n' -42 4o 4&1 46

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 so I 50 5| 5| 52 53 I23 III W0 mg;@ @0 III 16 so VACUUM AIR VACUUM AIR VACUUM AIR FIG. 6 FIG. 7 FIG. 8

INVENTOR MAYNARD J. TlPFER PATENT AGENT March 1, 1966 TlPPER 3,237,366

APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CASINGS AND THE LIKE Filed April 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV ENTOR MAYNARD J. G. TIPPER PATENT AGENT United States Patent 3,237,366 APPARATUS FOR VACUUM SEALING CASINGS AND THE LIKE Maynard J. Tipper, San Leandro, Califl, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Rheem Manufacturing Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 275,817 14 Claims. (Cl. 53-112) The present invention relates to machines for sealing caslngs and coverings, particularly as used in meat products and like areas of packaging. In modern procedures, it has been proposed to encase such types of materials in flexible bags of synthetic or natural membraneous materials, apply a vacuum to the open end of the bag to cause intimate contact of the material of the casing with the enclosed product and thereafter seal the end of the bag by crimping a metallic clip around the neck thereof in a tight contact, thereby preventing re-entry of air.

Of the bags or like containers so used in modern techniques, there are synthetic sheet film materials which are heat shrinking, whereby if a product, such as an edible meat, is sealed therein with vacuum applied, as mentioned above, and thereafter the bag is immersed in hot water or otherwise exposed to heat, to a temperature in the order of 190 F. to 375 F., the membraneous film will be drawn even more tightly as a skin around the product by heat shrinkage, thus increasing the shelflife of a perishable product. In like manner, other products such as cosmetics, drugs and the like can be vacuum sealed and in this way can preserve the condition thereof. Such procedures are, however, only as good as the degree of exclusion of air from the film around the product and the quality of the metallic crimped seal of the bag end or ends.

The present invention is concerned with such vacuum packaging of goods as mentioned above and has for its object to provide a unique and novel procedure of vacuum sealing coupled with crimping which will accomplish the desired result of maximum exclusion of air and tight, positive end sealing using either heating shrinking films or casing materials which do not possess this property.

Specific means for attaching a crimped clip around the end of a flexible or deformable bag or like container are known in the art and the present invention is designed to operate with such known crimping means. For example, in my prior US. Patents, Number 2,879,512 issued March 31, 1959, and 2,880,415 issued April 7, 1959, there are illustrated and described means for forming a generally U-shaped heavy duty pronged clip or staple around the gathered-up end of a casing enclosing a meat product or like goods in such manner that the ends of the legs of the clip abut when fully crimped around the casing. In my co-pending US. patent application, Serial No. 262,761 filed March 4, 1963, I have illustrated and described an improved apparatus for wrapping a similar generally U-shaped clip around a casing or similar enclosure in the form of a crossed-over contour tightly sealing the end of the casing, when crimped in place.

The present invention is particularly of use with apparatus of the alternative types of crimping a clip on or around the end of such a casing as set forth in my prior patents and co-pending application and can permit use of such prior and contemporary devices with vacuum evacuation of the bag, casing or other enclosure as well as utilization, if desired, of heat shrinking materials for such containers.

Generally, in practicing the present invention, a source of vacuum is made available and is applied, when needed, to an operating handle which serves the dual function of Cir acting as the actuator for the various steps of crimping and as the nozzle around which the bag being used is gathered, the control of vacuum and of power to the crimping device being by this one lever, at the complete will of the machine operator and requiring but one hand, thus leaving the other hand free for manipulation of the casing or bag around the product arranged therewithin, to facilitate evacuation of all air even from difficult to reach air-pockets. The machine automatically performs a sequence of functions of pre-set design but always as initiated by the operator, giving him complete control of the operation using a single lever-controlling means.

It should be realized that many products of various kinds and shapes are being packed in vacuum containers in the present trend and some of these have irregular shapes, creating the possibility of entrapped air in air pockets remaining in the finished package which would defeat the desired purpose of such packaging. The present invention particularly is of great utility in providing means to free the operator from control of most of the sequential steps of such an operation, so that he may devote his efforts to removing such air pockets without undue delays and without disturbing the general sequential steps needed toproduce the finished package.

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the present invention and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the machine according to the present invention, with parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the machine of FIG. 1, with parts broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed cross-section made on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view of the crimping and cutting unit used in connection with the machine of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the unit of FIG. 4;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic plan views of the table portion of the machine of FIG. 1, showing the operating handle in its three operating positions; and

FIGURES 9, 10, 11 and 12 are isometric elevational views of the machine of FIG. 1, in part, showing in sequence the manner and use of the machine for operation to seal a product in a casing, as exemplifying the use of the machine, according to the invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and- 2, the machine of the present invention is generally shown at 20, comprising a main box structure having front and back walls 21 and side walls 22 suitably fastened together by any conventional means such as welding and supported on a bottom plate 23 having depending legs 24 with feet 25, whereby machine 20 can be self-supporting on the floor. The various members 21 through 25 may be of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum. The upper end of the box structure 20 is closed with a lid portion 26 over one part of the top and a table portion 27 over the rest of the top, the two being joined by an upright plate 28, so as to totally enclose the box 20, in substance. It will be noted that table 27 is higher than the top or lid portion 26. Mounted to be adjustable in height relative to table 27 is a platen 29 formed as a heavy relatively solid receiving area and having a depending screw-threaded stem 30 which passes through a collar 31 in lid 26 and which can be raised or lowered by a pinion driven by a handle 33. The thread 32 on stem 30 is coarse, so that, conventionally, a quick adjustment of height of platen 29 can be made whenever needed, this being to accommodate for different sizes and types of products to be encased and crimped. Thus, ad-

justment of platen 29 relative to table 27, where crimping takes place, is necessary.

Mounted rearwardly of the table 27, as best shown in FIG. 2, is a crimping unit shown generally at 35. As previously set forth, this unit 35 may be conventional, as disclosed in my prior patents identified for example, or may be of the unique form set forth in my said co-pending application 262,761 of March 4, 1963 and in the description herein, the form disclosed in said co-pending application will be generally referred to, with the minor modifications needed to adapt it to the present machine. However, it will be readily seen that other crimping devices can be used.

The essential parts of the crimping device 35 needed for use with the present invention will now be described, with particular reference to FIG. 4. Crimping unit 35 has a baseplate 36 which is suitably fastened to table 27 to support the crimping device thereon in a predetermined position, as shown. A supporting standard 37 is integral with the base 36 and mounted thereon is a compressed air cylinder and piston 38. A curved track 39 is used to convey U-shaped clips of known form by gravity to a feeding position which places clips in succession in a shaped conveying guide 40. At the bottom of guide 40 are arranged two side-by-side receiving dies 41 of curved contour and when a clip, such as 42, is pressed downwardly by a crimping bar 43 driven by the piston of cylinder 38, the clip 42 will be distorted and wrapped :around the gathered end of a container or bag which may lie over the dies 41 when crimping pressure is applied.

This is hereinafter explained as a sequential function of the machine according to the invention. In order to locate and hold the stated gathered material in place, there is provided a swinging gate 44 suitably pivoted to the standard 37 and a throat 45 is provided for receiving the gathered material shaped in the side plates 46 for supporting dies 41.

Alongside guide plate 46 on one side, is arranged a cut-off knife 47 suitably guided to pass across the throat 45 when severing of the crimped material is needed. The general crimping and severing unit 35 described does not form part of the present invention and is given for clarity of understanding of the sequential operations to be performed by the machine of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention, table 27 is provided with a long, wide slot 50 formed in the lefthand side of the table top, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and having an upstanding guide rim 51 completely therearound. Slot 50 and rim 51 form a guide for the main operating lever 52 and handle 53 which control the vacuum and power operation functions of the machine 20, the parts for supplying vacuum and power and the controls therefor being housed within the box structure formed by side, front and bottom panels 21, 22 and 23. As is conventional with crimping devices of the type utilized with this invention, power drive for the unit 35 is by means of compressed air, although it is obvious that electric power or hydraulic fluid could equally be used for such operations. To this end, a source of supply of compressed air (not shown) is connected to input hose 54 which is connected in turn to a nipple 55 which is carried by the back panel 21 of the box 20. Tube 56 connects nipple 55 with control valves 57, and an air pressure gauge 58 is mounted for operation on one valve 57 whereby the incoming air pressure can be regulated and measured. The outlet tube 59 from valves 57 is connected to a master control valve 60 by a flexible hose 61. Control valve 60 has a button 62 projecting outwardly and normally is in closed position. It has an outlet port formed as tube 63. Outlet 63 has a flexible =hose 65 which passes out of box 20 through a suitable port 66 in the top 27 and passes to the inlet port 67 of a cylinder 68 for operating gate 44. Cylinder 68 is pivotally hung from a bracket 69 fastened to standard 37 and has its piston 70 pivoted at 71 to g te 44. Th s, when compressed air passes into cylinder-68 from master control valve 60, as when button 62 is depressed, piston 70 will be extended and gate 44 will be closed by swinging about a pivot 72. Gate 44 will remain closed, covering throat 45 while air pressure remains in cylinder 68 and, upon reduction of such air pressure, gate 44 will open and return to the position of FIG. 1. If necessary, a spring return of conventional form will be used to aid such return. This, control valve 60 determines the opening and closing of gate 44.

Input hose 61 connects to the valve 60 by a T-shaped tube 64 one arm of which supplies the compressed air to valve 60 and the other anrn of which has a flexible hose 73 which connects to the input side of another control valve 75 having a button 76 which, when depressed, allows flow of compressed air from valves 57 through control valve 75. The outlet of control valve 75 is formed as a T-connector 77 one arm of which has a flexible hose 78 connecting with the input port 79 to master cylinder 38. Thus, When button 76 is depressed, compressed air flows into cylinder 38 and crimping bar 43 is forced downwardly. Accordingly, crimping action is controlled by control valve 7 5.

It is desired that knife 47 be operated in timed sequence with the crimping action of cylinder 38, with a suitable time-lag in operation. To this end, the other leg of T-pipe 77 has a time-delay valve 80 connected thereto, this being a conventional valve for such purposes having the usual means to adjust the amount of time elapsing between operations. Time-delay valve 80 is connected by a flexible hose 81 to the knife operating cylinder 82 carried .by standard 37 which causes cut-off knife 47 to operate at the pre-set time after crimping has been accomplished. The various valves are suitably strapped or fastened to the interior of the box 20 in any suitable manner, in like fashion, the various connecting hoses are supported as needed within the box 20, all three hoses 65, 78 and 81 being passed from within the body of the box 20 to their outside connection points through the aperture 66 provided for this purpose, which places these .flexible hose connectors at the rear of the machine, behind the crimping unit 35 and out of the way of all operations.

In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, means are provided to operate the gate-closing, crimping and cut-01f operations just described, under direct control of the operator of the machine and through mechanism to control application of vacuum to a bag enclosing a product to be sealed off and crimped. To this end, a source of vacuum is provided comprising an electric evacuator 85 supported on a bracket 86 mounted interiorly of the box 20 and having an external electrical switch 87 connected by plug 88 to a suitable source of electric power. A receiving sump 89 is provided connected by conduit 90 to motor-evacuator 85 and on the outer tube 91 is a bleed-valve 92, to control the degree of vacuum desired. A vacuum chamber 93 is connected by a flexible hose 94 to conduit 91 on the inlet side. The outlet side of chamber 93 has a connecting flexible hose 95, the form of hose being deliberately selected, in this instance, to have a high degree of resistance to rotation about its axis, as by having an outer spring cover 96. Hose 95 will be firmly clamped by conventional means to its connections. at each end, to emphasize this resistance to twisting. A vacuum measuring gauge 97 is provided for chamber 93.. Chamber 93 is suitably mounted on the framework. internally of box 20 by brackets 98.

Located in a horizontal plane and mounted for pivotal movement is arranged a hollow pipe 100 having a T-fitting' 101 at its farther end. The pipe 100 has limiting washers 102 and 103 at its extremities and is carried by brackets 104 and 105 which aresuitably bored to act as pivot bearings, as shown at 106 in FIG. 2. The pipe 100 extends beyond bracket 105 and is capped by a finial 107 at the far end beyond T-coupling 101. At the near end, pipe 100 terminates in a nipple connection 108 which is firmlyfitted into flexible hose 96, as shown. Bracket 104 is fast to the body interiorly of box 20 by an angle support 109 and bracket 105 is fast to the body interiorly of box 20 by an angle support 110.

Intermediate the length of pipe 100 there is arranged a control valve 111 for permitting vacuum to be directed through pipe 100 when needed. Valve 111 is a conventional butterfly valve having its main body 112 fast on pipe 100 to move therewith and having its control arm 113 extending outwardly (FIG. 3) and engaging one end of a lever 114 by means of pin 115. The other end of lever 1-14 connects with a fixed pin 116 which terminates in a rod 117 rigidly held in position by an angle bracket 118 by nuts 119, bracket 118 being suitably mounted interiorly of box 20. From this description, it will be seen that if pipe 100 is rotated on its horizontal axis against the spring bias of flexible hose 95 and spring 96, the butterfly valve 111 will turn and acting against fixed rod 117 through lever 114, it will be opened and remain open while the pipe 20 is rotated in one direction. In the other direction, spring 96 will return the pipe 100 to zero or starting position and close the butterfly valve 111. The time when valve 111 is opened and closed can be adjusted by varying the length of rod 117 by nuts 119 and adjusting the original angularity of lever 114 relative to valve body 11 2.

Attached to the free arm of T-coupling 101 is an upright hollow pipe section 120 which extends up and through the slot 50 in the upper table 27 of box 20 and is connected by a coupling 121 to operating lever 52, already mentioned, which also is hollow and which extends through handle 53 and terminates in a nozzle 123 having a wide locating flange 124. Thus, when handle 53 is moved from front to back of table 27 in guide slot 50 the operating lever 52 and pipe section 120 will move therewith, swinging the pipe section 120 in an arcuate path and swinging pipe 100 on its horizontal axis whereby butterfly valve 111 will be opened and closed. FIG. 3 shows the action of butterfly valve in these movements and it will be noted that after the initial movement of pipe section 120 to its first position, vacuum will be supplied from tank 93 through pipe 100, pipe section 120, lever 52, handle 53 and nozzle 123 and such vacuum will be maintained in all forward positions of handle 53 from front to back of table 27 after this initial movement has taken place. Thus, under control of the operator, vacuum can be supplied to nozzle 123 whenever desired, and held there throughout further movements forward over table 27. If handle 53 is released, the handle 53, lever 52, pipes 120 and 100 will be returned back to starting position, at the front of the machine, by action of the twist given to flexible hose 95 and its spring 96, thus automatically cutting off the vacuum supply to nozzle 123.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, a projecting operating mm 130 is provided mounted interiorly of box 20 by a pivot pin 131 and balanced to hang downwardly and lie against and over button 62 which operates the control valve 60 for closing gate 44. Arm 130 projects into the arcuate path of movement of pipe section 120 at rest at position A so that at a dotted position B it is in contact therewith, this position B being at a point where vacuum is started. Therefore, when vacuum is applied to nozzle 123, the gate closing lever 130 is in contact position ready to be actuated. Further movement from position B to a position C will cause full actuation of valve 60 to close first gate 44 and then by dire-ct contact of pipe section 120 on button 76 of control valve 75, this will cause actuation of cylinder 38 to perform the crimping action desired at throat 45. By adjustment of the position of operating arm 130, gate 44 can be closed at a point before the crimping action, so that the gate closing through valve 60 would take place intermediate position B and C of pipe section 120. This is preferred and is used to give another sequence in the operation under control of the operator. A dwell at this intermediate position with gate 44 closed permits a final positioning of the product before crimping.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views in plan to show the three positions A, B and C and their effect. In FIG. 6 the handle 53 is at rest at the front of the machine and, as will be seen, both vacuum and compressed air supply are cut off from the operation. In p'osition B, in FIG. 7, vacuum has now been cut in but the compressed air is off. In FIG. 7, a position X has been shown dotted. It is preferred to close the gate 44 and hold it closed before crimping, and the necessary adjustments will then be made, as previously discussed, to apply compressed air to gate actuating cylinder 68 through valve 60 at position X, so that valve 60 will then be on. At position C, the vacuum is on, the gate 44 is closed, the compressed air is on, and crimping, followed by cutting will take place. Thereafter, upon release of handle 53, this will return by spring urging to position A, at rest, with vacuum and compressed air at off positions ready for the next operation. It should be realized that the source of vacuum and of compressed air will remain at desired operating levels at all times. The circled gauges for vacuum and air of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are .not equivalent to gauges 97 and 58 but the control valves 60, 76 for compressed air and 111 for vacuum.

The dwell caused at position X is desirable in many instances but obviously one can move from B to C in one smooth operation with the gate 44 closing first, followed by crimping.

In order to fully understand the manner of use of the machine hereinbefore described, an illustrated example of operation is given. FIGS. 9, 10, l1 and 12 illustrate the four basic operational positions and sequential steps followed in using this machine. Referring to these figures, which are in stepwise sequence from 9 to 12, FIG. 9 shows loading position (position A) with no vacuum, of a sausage or like product 135 in an open-necked bag 136; FIG. 10 shows vacuum drawing position (position B); FIG. 11 shows gate closed, clip applied, followed by end cutting (position C); and FIG. 12 shows the finished product with a vacuum tight clip on the casing and the handle withdrawn toward position A. By examining the sequential steps, the advantages of the present machine will be very apparent. In FIG. 9, which is position A at rest, the bag 136 encases a substantially C-shaped sausage 135 of irregular contour leaving problem areas for vacuum sealing. The end of the bag 136 is gathered around flange 124 and held there with the left hand with nozzle 123 inside the bag. The right hand is holding the encased sausage ready to mold same. Table 29 has been elevated to suit the size of the product and allow easy passage of the thinned portion 137 of the bag 136 into the throat 45 at the right time. In FIG. 10, movement to position B has applied vacuum for forming the gather 137 and allow manipulation to remove air bubbles from the evacuated casing or bag 136. When the operator considers the air to all be out of the bag 136, he then moves the handle 53 forward to the position C, as in FIG. 11. This will in sequence, close gate 44, crimp a clip around the gathered portion 137, sever this unclipped portion 139 from the body of the bag and finally return the parts to rest. The packed product can then be removed as shown in FIG. 12, since handle 53 has been retracted, air and vacuum are cut off and the product is tightly vacuum sealed by the clip 140, FIG. 12.

Many obvious modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Other power than vacuum or compressed air exemplified may be used. The sequential timing of evacuating, gate closing, crimping and cutting and the like maybe varied to suit circumstances and requirements of particular packaging. Heat shrinking bags may readily be used in the procedure as shown sequentially in FIGS. 9 to 12, for example. Any suitable type of clipping device can be used with the vacuum control system hereinbefore described and the clip unit 35 defined is only one form exemplary of a unit which will serve to cooperate with the vacuum operations defined for producing a tightly sealed package.

The machine according to the present invention is novel and useful in providing a vacuum sealing apparatus having control means for operation of the clip sealing mechanism Which leaves the hands of the machine operator free for basic manipulation of the package being formed while giving him complete timing control of all operations involved. Basically, the present invention provides a single lever controlhaving preselected positions for supplying vacuum for evacuation of the casing arranged around the product to be sealed and for control of application of power, such as compressed air to the means for crimping a metal clip around the end of the casing which vacuum is still applied to produce a tight seal and to vacuum pack the product in the casing.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for vacuum sealing a bag containing a product comprising:

a horizontally extending support adapted to support such bag for sliding movement of the latter in one direction along a first horizontal path of travel from a first station to a second station,

a vertically disposed conduit swingably supported at its lower end at a point spaced downwardly from said support and provided at its upper end with a horizontally extending terminal portion adapted to be received through the neck of said bag, and movable with said conduit along a generally horizontally extending arcuate second path of travel alongside said first path and between first and second positions corresponding respectively to said first and second stations,

means for applying a vacuum to said conduit for evacuating said bag,

a clipping device at said second station in said first path for sealing said neck,

means actuated by movement of said conduit between said first and second positions for connecting said vacuum applying means to said conduit,

and means operable when said conduit is at said second position for actuating said clipping device.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said conduit is rigid and said terminal portion is fixedly secured thereto, and wherein said support is vertically adjustable to permit registration of the neck of said bag with said portion for products of different size.

3. A machine for vacuum sealing a casing on and around a product to form a vacuum sealed package comprising, in combination;

a support table; a crimping device mounted thereon having a power operated pressure means to drive a U-shaped clip down a track and into contact with a receiving die; a receiving throat at said die, for aligning the end of the casing across said die; a power-operated gate adapted to close on said casing end when at said throat; a power-operated severing knife alongside said throat for severing the casing end, after sealing, from the package; a control valve for said gate; a control valve for said pressure means; a control valve for said knife; a source of power for operating said means through said valves; a hollow handle movable across said table and guided in a slot toward and away from said crimping device; a nozzle at the end of said handle and a flange surrounding same, to permit the end of a casing to he slipped thereover and held by the hand of an operator; a pivotted hollow pipe fast to said handle and projecting beneath said table; a vacuum controller opened and closed by pivotal movement of said pipe; a source of vacuum connected to said vacuum controller; said pipe and said power valves being so associated that during pivotal movements of said pipe, said gate, said pressure means and said knife are operated in sequence when vacuum is supplied through said pipe and hollow handle to said nozzle, the operation of said valves and controller being under control of the operator by placement of said handle in predetermined positions in its guided slot.

4. A machine for vacuum sealing a casing on and around a product to form a vacuum sealed package comprising, in combination;

a support table, a crimping device mounted thereon having a power operated pressure means to drive a U-shaped clip down a track and into contact with a receiving die; a receiving throat at said die, for aligning the end of the casing across said die; a power-operated gate adapted to closeon said casing end when at said throat; a power-operated severing knife alongside said throat for severing the casing end, after sealing, from the package; a source of compressed air acting as said power; a control valve for said gate; a control valve for said pressure means; a control valve for said knife; a source of power for operating said means through said valves comprising a compressed air supply operable, at will, to flow through said valves to the parts to be controlled; a hollow handle movable across said table and guided in a slot toward and away from said crimping device; a nozzle at the end of said handle and a flange surrounding same, to permit the end of a casing to be slipped thereover and held by the hand of an operator; a pivotted hollow pipe fast to said handle and projecting beneath said table; a vacuum controller opened and closed by pivotal movement of said pipe; a source of vacuum connected to said vacuum controller; said pipe and said power valves being so associated that during pivotal movement of said pipe, said gate, said pressure means and said knife are operated in sequence which vacuum is supplied through said pipe and hollow handle to said nozzle, the operation of said valves and controller being under control of the operator by placement of said handle in predetermined positions in its guided slot.

5. A machine for vacuum sealing a product within a casing comprising a vacuum system and a cooperating compressed air system;

said vacuum system having a source of vacuum; a vacuum control valve for applying same to a hollow tube; a hollow handle connected to said tube for receiving the end of a casing; a pivot around which said handle can move in an arcuate path, at one point of which vacuum is applied to said pipe by opening said vacuum control valve and maintaining said valve open through the rest of the arcuate path;

said compressed air system having a source of compressed air; a cylinder to receive said compressed air for driving a crimping bar under pressure against a clip to be placed around said end of the casing; a valve for controlling said cylinder; a receiving die for the clip; a throat at the receiving die to locate the end of the casing thereover; a gate for holding the end of the casing in said throat; a compressed air valve for permitting operation of said gate to close same in unison with operation of said crimping bar; a compressed air driven cut-off knife at said throat having a time-lag device to operate same after the crimping bar has operated but under control of the valve controlling said cylinder;

said vacuum system and compressed air system being under control of the movements of said handle in its arcuate path by having said compressed air control valves for said cylinder and gate located in the path of said handle and operable by movement of said handle during its arcuate movements.

6. A machine for vacuum sealing a product within a casing comprising a vacuum system and a cooperating compressed air system;

said vacuum system having a source of vacuum; a vacuum control valve for applying same to a hollow tube; a hollow handle connected to said tube for receiving the end of a casing; a pivot around which said handle can move in an arcuate path, at one point of which vacuum is applied to said pipe by opening said vacuum control valve and maintaining said valve open through the rest of the arcuate path;

said compressed air system having a source of compressed air; a cylinder to receive said compressed air for driving a crimping bar under pressure against a clip to be placed around said end of the casing; a valve for controlling said cylinder; a receiving die for the clip; a throat at the receiving die to locate the end of the casing thereover; a gate for holding the end of the casing in said throat; a compressed air valve for permitting operation of said gate to close same in unison with operation of said crimping bar;

said vacuum system and compressed air system being under control of the movements of said handle in its arcuate path by having said compressed air control valves for said cylinder and gate located in the path of said handle and operable by movement of said handle during its arcuate movements.

7. A machine according to claim wherein said vacuum system includes a hollow twisted hose connecting said source of vacuum to said hollow pipe and serving to spring urge said pipe against movement of said handle.

8. A machine for vacuum sealing a product in a casing by means of a U-shaped clip crimped around the end of the casing comprising in combination;

a fiat-bed receiving table for said product in a casing;

a vacuum nozzle insertable into the end of said casing carried by a main operating handle; an elongated guide slot across and through said table; a swinging hollow lever moving within said slot and carrying said handle therewith; said handle being hollow and communicating interiorly with said hollow lever; a source of vacuum; a vacuum control valve controlling application of vacuum to said nozzle through said hollow lever and handle by a first movement of said lever in its guide, whereby evacuation of air from said casing around the product therein can take place at this first position; a power driven clip crimping device mounted upon said table with its casing end engaging throat proximate the far end of said slot; a source of compressed air power for operating said crimping device; a valve for controllin-g flow of compressed air power to said crimping machine and an operating means for said valve acted upon when said lever swings to its far end position by moving the handle in its guide slot to cause said crimping device to act, retraction of said handle causing first the removal of power to said crimping device and then the removal of vacuum from said nozzle.

9. A machine for vacuum sealing a product in a casing by means of a U-shaped clip crimped around the end of the casing comprising in combination; a flat-bed receiving table for said product in a casing; a vacuum nozzle insertable into the end of said casing carried by a main operating handle; an elongated guide slot across said table; a swinging lever moving within said slot and carrying said handle therewith; a source of vacuum; a vacuum control valve controlling application of vacuum to said nozzle by a first movement of said lever in its guide, whereby evacuation of air from said casing around the product therein can take place at this first position; a power driven clip crimping device mounted upon said table with its casing end engaging throat proximate the far end of said slot; a source of power for operating said crimping device; a valve for controlling flow of power to said crimping machine and an operating means for said valve acted upon when said lever swings to its far end position by moving the handle in its guide slot to cause said crimping device to act.

10. A machine according to claim 9 wherein said crimping device comprises a compressed air driven crimping bar; a control valve therefor; a compressed air driven cut-off knife; a delay-action valve for time-lag operation thereof under control of said control valve.

11. A machine according to claim 9 wherein said crimping device comprises a power driven crimping bar; a guide therefor; a receiving die member at the end of the guide; a throat at said die member across which said end of the casing lies; a power operated gate closable to hold said end of the casing tightly in said throat; a cut-01f knife at said throat and power driven with said crimping bar; a main valve for controlling the application of power to said crimping bar; an operating means for opening said valve; a gate closing valve for operating said gate and an operating means for said valve; a timelag delay means controlling said knife from said main valve; and means moving with said lever and handle in one posit-ion to operate first said gate valve to close said gate, and in another position to operate said main valve to cause crimping, then cutting.

12. A machine for vacuum sealing a casing around a product to form a vacuum-sealed package comprising a supporting table for the encased product; a crimping device mounted on said table having a locating throat at which an end of the casing can be crimp-sealed; a source of compressed air for said crimping device; a main control valve for applying said compressed air to said crimping device; operating means for open-ing and closing said main control valve; means for clamping the end of the casing at the throat including a compressed air operated gate member closed in unison with said main control valve; a compressed air operated knife at said gate, for severing the crimped package after crimping action has taken place; a source of vacuum; a control valve for said vacuum; a handle movable in a guided path over said supporting table; means for applying said vacuum to said handle; and means for operating said vacuum valve and said main valve in predetermined sequence under con trol of movement across said table by said handle.

13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein said valves operate in a sequence of first vacuum, the gate closing, then crimping and on retraction of said handle both compressed air and vacuum are cutoff.

14. A machine according to claim 12 wherein said valves operate in a sequence of vacuum applied at a first position of said handle and maintained throughout its path of movement; second gate closing and crimping and finally, after a time lag, severing by the knife.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,564 2/1956 Russell et a1. 53138 X 2,866,975 1/1959 Ine 29243.57 X 3,046,713 7/1962 Belknap 531 12 3,094,825 6/1963 Bracey et a1 53112 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR VACUUM SEALING A BAG CONTAINING A PRODUCT COMPRISING: A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SUCH BAG FORSLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER IN ONE DIRECTION ALONG A FIRST HORIZONTAL PATH OF TRAVEL FROM A FIRST STATION TO A SECOND STATION, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED CONDUIT SWINGABLY SUPPORTED AT ITS LOWER END AT A POINT SPACED DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID SUPPORT AND PROVIDED AT ITS UPPER END WITH A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING TERMINAL PORTION ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED THROUGH THE NECK OF SAID BAG, AND MOVABLE WITH SAID CONDUIT ALONG A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING ARCUATE SECOND PATH OF TRAVEL ALONGSIDE SAID FIRST PATH AND BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS CORRESPONDING RESPECTIVELY TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS, MEANS FOR APPLYING A VACUUM TO SAID CONDUIT FOR EVACUATING SAID BAG, A CLIPPING DEVICE AT SAID SECOND STATION IN SAID FIRST PATH FOR SEALING SAID NECK, MEANS ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID CONDUIT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS FOR CONNECTING SAID VACUUM APPLYING MEANS TO SAID CONDUIT, AND MEANS OPERABLE WHEN SAID CONDUIT IS AT SAID SECOND POSITION FOR ACTUATING SAID CLIPPING DEVICE. 